Monday, February 16, 2009

This Works For Me Quite Nicely

(And I know, this is Tuesday, not Wednesday, but bear with me and let's just live on the edge.)

What works for me, it turns out, is a measley 146 things. That is (to the best of my estimation powers, which are questionable, and if you don't believe me ask our tax guy) the more-or-less number of editions of Work-For-Me Wednesday posts I've written since I started the whole deal in April of 2006. I started it on a complete whim, never imagining it would last three weeks--certainly not three years.

But so many of you showed up and played along, and you turned it into something clever and wonderful. You--certainly not me--are the reason it has been so successful, and I'm just tickled I got to be a part of it. Thank you for that.

As much as I have enjoyed WFMW, I've also reached a point where I'm needing a rest from it. You might be surprised how much work it generates behind the scenes--and every bit of it has been happily worth the effort. But lots of swirly little things are bumping around in my heart and my head these days, some important realizations and convictions about rest and balance. (I'm thinking I'll probably have a thing or two to write on the subject, in the coming weeks, unless I just get so flat-out full of balance I can't pull my horizontal self off the couch. A girl can dream, right?) I've been thinking and praying and looking for some ways to simplify and trim back on some things that are very good but not, in fact, urgent.

I went to BlissDom a couple of weeks ago with the vague intention of shutting down WFMW altogther. I thought, perhaps, it had run its course. But, to my great delight, I met so many women at the conference who told me how much they had gained from WFMW--how many good ideas they'd learned and (my favorite part) how many new friends they'd made. I realized I'd be a real heel to shut down something that might still be of benefit, somewhere.

So I decided to hand it off to someone else. It would keep the community still going, and it would be a fun opportunity for another blogger. I thought through the options without telling a soul. I wanted to pick someone who would, I knew, handle it graciously and well. I wanted someone, of course, who had been a faithful participant in WFMW in the past. And it would've been icing on the cake if I could've met her in real life.

One name just kept floating to the top of my mind. She seemed like such an obvious choice. And when I got to spend some time with her at BlissDom, I knew we had our girl. So, my friends, please meet your new WFMW hostess, beginning next week: Kristen from We Are THAT Family. She has graciously agreed to take this on, and I encourage you to participate there just as faithfully as you have here. I've told Kristen to run with this and do it her way, and I expect she'll make plenty of clever changes. She has my full blessing.

And I'm not dropping off the WFMW train altogether. I'll still be around, helping Kristen if she needs it, maybe posting my own WFMW here and joining her Mr. Linky (Wouldn't that be fun? What do you bet I mess up and don't use the permalink?). And Kristen and I haven't ruled out the possiblity of working together in the future for even bigger things for WFMW...say, Works-For-Me Wednesday: THE MOVIE!Starring Reese Witherspoon, who cleans her shower with vinegar and sprays her hairbrushes with Static Guard, all while controlling paper clutter by using envelopes!

I'm just sure it would be a hit.

Kristen will be a hit, too--you're going to love her, if you haven't already met her. Bear with us over the next couple of weeks as we get everything transferred and she gets up to speed. In the meantime, tonight at 8 pm CST, I'll host a Mr Linky here (I didn't want to leave you high and dry if you had a post already written!) So check back later tonight to leave your link. Starting next week, you'll leave your links at Kristen's blog.

And if I may say it one more time...Thank you for making this little carnival something special. I have enjoyed it so much.

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Have a Works-For-Me Wednesday tip you'd like to share? I'd love for you to join us! First timers, check out the guidelines here. Please note that the links will close down at 8 pm CST tonight, in order to keep away the spammers.

Good for you! It's a blessing to see someone choose to put first things first.

Thank you for passing the WFMW torch on to Kristen. I have learned SO much from WFMW, and I'm so glad to see that it will keep going.

Your blog is such a blessing because I learn so much from it. You always write or share something that makes me think in new ways. If I ever had to choose just one to continue reading, it would be yours.

Kristen will be doing it, huh? Well, I sort of figured it would be here - she is nearly always one of the first to post for WFMW anyway!

I decided to start blogging for lots of reasons, but the main thing that got me start blogging on a regular basis was because of WFMW. I wanted to be a part of it and I also didn't want to have dead air between Wednesdays :) So Thank You, Shannon, for putting it together and for passing the torch. I will be happy to move with the times.

I totally understand being up to "here" with bloggity tasks. Phew! I'm glad that Kristen is willing to take this on so that we can all continue to play along - and I'll be watching to see if you put those permalinks up. *chuckle* Here's to hoping things will slow down a bit for you.... I had to laugh at Lori's WFMF comment. heehee That is how it normally works!!!

Thank you. Truly from my heart. Thank you. For creating WFMW. For bringing so many wonderful people together. For passing on WFMW so that we can all continue to enjoy it. For taking care of yourself and continually working to find ways to make blogging work for you and your family.

I feel like I am just getting going here, so that is very sad news! I will follow the crowd though because I love wfmw... thank you so much for all you have done to keep it going and for creating something so brilliant. And well done you for passing it on before it pulls you down - I for one never want to let projects go. Really I am very impressed at your sanity!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! It's been lots of fun writing WFMW and I'm so glad that you have chosen to pass it off rather than let it die. Good for you for evaluating the needs that are most important to you. Maybe I should take a little of that advice.

You are such a loving and generous soul! I don't comment regularly, but read you all the time on my feed. I just do not have time, as you know - and finding balance, is tough. To hand off WFM to someone else is generous, and so big hearted (not a real word - but it is meant!!) I will be reading Kristin as well, I was turned on to her wonderful blog just recently.
God Bless you, Shannon!

I just skipped over to check out Kristen's blog and what a treat I found! I giggled until my sides hurt!
I think she will take that torch and run BOLDLY... hopefully she won't trip on anything!
She sounds like a wonderful gal--full of wit and humor :0D

I host a regular "Hooked on Fridays" party, so I know how much work it can be behind the scenes. I'm amazed that you've been hosting WFMW for nearly 3 years! (In blog years, that's, like, a decade!) It obviously struck a chord with people. Thanks for keeping up with it for as long as you have. I know how much I've enjoyed it.

I'm glad you chose to keep WFMW going with Kristen at the helm. She'll do a great job! :-)

Thanks for keeping WFMW, and for hosting it for so long, I actually stumbled upon your blog back in Sept. of 06, and have read it ever since! I sporadically shared in WFMW, whenever I felt I had something that might actually work for others :) And I am sad to not see it here anymore, but so excited that it will still be around. :) And I hope I get to meet you at blogher this summer!

Thanks so much for handing this over to Kristen. I just started WFMW and would be disappointed if it was gone altogether. Thanks for sharing with us during this season of your life and I'm sure Kristen will do a great job. Can't wait to see what you post. ;)

WFMW has been a great way to bring readers together to share and learn from each other. So glad you found a way to keep it out. I love Kristin and love her bloggishly good fun blog. Am glad to see the baton passed into good hands.

Girl, I am in utter awe at what you have accomplished here. You are truly an example for all mom and Christian bloggers.

I kinda thought you might be handing the reins over to someone else eventually...and well you should. You have built WFMW, now let someone else maintain it while you bask in the rest of your life. Good luck to you!

Thank you, thank you Shannon, for continuing in this labor of bloggy love for so long. WFWM has brought me such joy and wisdom through the years. I'll always have a place in my heart for it, too, as it was my first ever blogging carnival. Really - thanks so much for all the time and energy you have put into it, making it what it is today.

Shannon thank you for the countless hours you've invested in hosting us all here these last three years! Looking forward to meeting our new hostess. And looking forward to hearing all your heart has on balance & rest. This all or nothing personality needs all the encouragement she can get! :)

How fun, a new venue. I will still read and comment here and I have a feeling my love for your blog will be just as strong. Thanks for hosting all this time and being such an intrical part of my early blogging journey.

Whew! I felt so sad when I thought it was over for good. I have just started frequenting Kristen's site (even won something there not too long ago!). I am thrilled you are doing one last WFMW (I have had one planned for about 2 weeks) and I know I will be participating at the new location.

Thanks Shannon for hosting WFMW for so long. It has been such a treat. A couple of my favorite them ones were the 5 ingredient meals and the Summer Daze (boredom busters for kids)!

Oh, you had me nervous when I thought you were going to stop doing WFMW. It's so helpful, and it's a wonderful way to connect so many women & moms. Thank you for your inspiration and your time over the years. Kristen will do a wonderful job--good choice for the new hostess!

Yay Kristen! Love her. Seriously. She is a perfect choice - not because she always pounced on one of the first 5 spots once Mr Linky went active (she must have some serious lightening fingers) but because she's just awesome in general and so entertaining!

Congrats to you for knowing when you needed a break (we do tend to wear ourselves too thin) and congrats to her.

Thanks for hosting! This has been such a create carnival! Good for you for knowing when it is time to move on, give yourself time for something else, and give someone else the opportunity. You are an inspiration in so many ways!

Thanks so much for hosting this! I've only just started contributing, but I've been "lurking" for much longer. I really like your blog, and I always love reading everyone's WFMW ideas! I'm glad that someone else will host WFMW and that you will get the break you need. A win-win. =)

I'm so glad you found a happy solution! I think I'm a perfect example of why it takes so much work for you to keep this up and running. In my sleepiness I forgot to include the topic of my WFMW post. It was supposed to be "Marriages That Endure." I am so sorry! Feel free to delete my link, or change it or do nothing at all. I'm #63. So, so sorry, Shannon!

Wow, Shannon, you are blessing so many other bloggers every day. I love how generous you have been with providing us opportunities to connect with each other (and you). And I just love it when you pass on a project that has brought you success, and truly "mom-it-forward," to use The GNO girls' term. It was a pleasure to meet you at Blissdom!

THank you so much for starting Works for me wednesday! I haven't been a participant for very long, but I really love doing it and am grateful that you are passing it along to someone else. Looking forward to seeing the changes you guys make!

I think it's interesting how strongly your announcement has hit me. You were the first mommy blog I ever visited, and it was right about the time you started WFMW. "End of an era" is an understatement.

But I respect you so much for doing what's needed to find balance, and I'm sure Kristen will do great.

Now you'll have many more wonderful things in store for us! I'll be reading!

Thank you so much for hosting this fun event for so long. I am a newbie at doing it although I had followed your blog for quite some time. I appreciate you handing it off to another who will continue to raise the "baby" you birthed.

Thank you also for sharing with such transparency. Balance is something every Christian struggles to find. Keeping your spiritual equilibrium is a constant juggling act that must be continually revisited and reconsidered. How wish you are to realize the difference between the important and the urgent. May the Lord bless you as you prayerfully consider "your days." Blessings.

That was the best "goodbye" speech I ever read! LOL. You should do that for money!!! I wanted to come through the computer and hug you right then! Ha! Ha! You have been so faithful with this and you deserve a break. Blogging is work and I don't think there is a person who would disagree with me. I'm still keeping you on my sidebar though because although I love making people laugh I like to laugh myself and you do that for me! I can't wait to read your future posts my friend.
Big Hugs!
Kim
And go figure I don't have anything working for me today! I need to go find something!!!

thanks so much for all the hard work you've put in up til now & thanks for passing WFMW on - it's been great for me, both in helping me blog consistently, learn great tips & get some good blog traffic!

You know, this struck a chord with me in a totally off-topic way: my hubby and I have been talking about boundary and commitment issues the past few days and isn't it so freeing when you realize you just have to let a few things go? :)

Your WFMW have really "Rocked". I'll be sorry to see them end on one of my all time favorite blogs, but totally understand.
What a great testimony for setting boundaries and passing the blessing on to others.

Just wanted to add my many thanks for all the hard work you've put into this carnival over the years; while I don't play along *every* week, I do play, and I come by every Wednesday to see what works for everybody else...glad to hear the torch is being passed, and not extinguished.

Thanks so much for hosting WFMW all this time. WFMW was the first meme I ever participated in and I enjoyed it so much! I will keep up with it because I am learning so much. Thanks for asking Kristen to take it on because her meme, Sincerely 'Fro Me to You was the second carnival I joined in.